Reds Announcer Thom Brenneman Went Combo Ron Burgundy and Jim Brockmire Tonight
Brenneman says something awful on a hit mic...
And then goes on to call a home run in the middle of his apology. A home run that lands in The Judgement Free Zone. Can’t make this stuff up.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:00 AM ^
It will be hard to walk that back. It doesn't seem like a "slip" as most people use that term.
August 20th, 2020 at 7:19 AM ^
I don't know. Is there a 'flag' factory there?
Seriously, he did wrong and now he is certainly toast.
August 20th, 2020 at 5:22 PM ^
Findlay Ohio north of Cinci is "Flag City USA". Could have argued that, if not for the long beg-for-forgiveness speech.
August 20th, 2020 at 11:13 AM ^
Yikes - that one is cringe worthy there. When I heard he used a gay-slur, I wasn't expecting that one.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
Yeah that was pretty slow and deliberate. He's only "very, very sorry" that it got caught on camera. The way he dropped that so casually sure sounds like a guy who says it a lot
August 20th, 2020 at 12:00 AM ^
He gone!
Sucks because I love Brenneman's voice and his deliberate calling of MLB games, but man hot mic or not that's not acceptable casually anywhere and exposes his root character. He's going to get what he deserves.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:03 AM ^
He was removed from the broadcast in the fifth inning. He’s not going to have a job tomorrow. Probably doesn’t have one right now.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:02 AM ^
There's this Walter Mitty song called Otterpops in the icebox
"I'm from southern California where we say words like gay and I dont mean to offend it's just the way I was raised."
Unfortunately our mainstream culture for a long time didn't give a shit about people who lived a non traditional lifestyle. It's going to take time to change. 30 years ago no apology would have been made. Some progress has been made. Not enough obviously but it is a start
August 20th, 2020 at 7:38 AM ^
You can watch old Simpsons episodes and in more than one Homer is openly homophobic and throws the word gay around in a derogatory way. Something I never seemed to notice growing up but is uncomfortable to hear now.
Anyway, I hear stuff like this nowadays and end up thinking the dude is in the closet.
August 20th, 2020 at 8:22 AM ^
I think the Simpsons writers were 100% aware of what they were doing using the word "gay" and were doing it for the right reasons. The episode "Homer's Phobia" is great.
zzzzZZZAAAAPPP!!
August 20th, 2020 at 8:26 AM ^
I want to live in a world where a foundry turns into a nightclub at the end of the day
August 20th, 2020 at 10:11 AM ^
To the Steelworkers of America: Keep reaching for that rainbow.
August 20th, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
Like a cartoon version of "All In The Family." Archie Bunker said the most outrageous things, maybe even the F word (not that F word).
August 20th, 2020 at 10:15 AM ^
Marge: "He prefers the company of men."
Homer: "Who doesn't?"
August 20th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^
Homer: "It's a miracle!"
John: "No, ultrasuede is a miracle. This is just good timing."
August 20th, 2020 at 8:23 AM ^
Yeah but didn’t he say “fag”?
August 20th, 2020 at 12:09 AM ^
That was bizarre. just bizarre. the judgment free zone is hilarious. We truly are living the sequel of idiocracy.
I’d also like to share how much I hate the “that is not who I am” argument when someone does/says something that stupid or hateful. You fucking just said it. It wasn’t someone else, it wasn’t you from 20 years ago, it was you five seconds ago. It is you. You may not like it, you may believe you are better than that, but your actions say otherwise.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
Yep, that's what they all say just before the firing squad.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:17 AM ^
The Judgment Free Zone is how I know we're living in a simulation.
August 20th, 2020 at 7:47 AM ^
Ah, judgement, the lifeblood of cognition. Yep, nothing inspires judgement like judgement itself. It would be nice to break that cycle. By passing judgement on Thom, validity is conferred on both sides of the argument, i.e. "That was inexcusable, fire the bum" vs. "That's how he feels, he has a right to his opinion and it's unfair to fire him over exercising his rights". Of course, 'validity' is itself a product of judgement, so it's likely that nothing is learned on either side and both become more entrenched. His statements over the air were dumb and offensive, his apology (to me) might have been worse, but I doubt he and his 'supporters' will examine their own views and grow into more loving human beings over this. This is an opportunity to publicly learn the lesson of tolerance and respect, but instead scorn is what he gets. What he said was hurtful and wrong and an insincere apology doesn't fix it, but raining hellfire on him (and by extension, his supporters) isn't the answer either. As a society, we're too quick to point fingers without consideration of our own shortcomings and how we might like to be treated when we screw up.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
Where's the hellfire?
Dude's job is to say words on television for a living and he clearly messed that up in a big way. Getting fired and having some people yell at him online feels like natural and obvious consequence to his actions.
Thom can and should still learn from this. Others can, too.
August 20th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
This is just dumb - sure he has the right to express his beliefs (no matter how bigoted and backwards they may be) but his employer also has the right to expect basic minimum standards of conduct and blurting out a slur on live tv falls well below that level.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:22 AM ^
As a Reds fan, this is embarrassing but, I hate to say it, not surprising. He went straight to “man of faith” and “that’s not who I am.” Bullshit on both counts. So tired of religion being used this way. He’s said that word hundreds of times, he’s just sorry the mic was on when he thought it wasn’t. That word was said with pure disdain and disgust, revealing exactly who he is. Don’t know where the hell he was referring to either, not that that’s important, although I’m curious if there’s any other commentary available for context. There should be no delay or debate. Fire him.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:37 AM ^
+1. Ditto. I didn't watch this particular game but as a Reds fan who has watched a few hundred games over 13 years where Thom has had the call, this doesn't particularly surprise me.
Thom's honestly been going slowly off the rails for years. His tangents have become more frequent and less and less associated with the baseball game in front of him.
There was one game last April where he riffed about Venezuela and socialism for a full half-inning. Then a few games after that, he referred to a Milwaukee Brewer as "King Kong", which made me go "hmmmmmm ......"
August 20th, 2020 at 12:43 AM ^
Double post - my deepest apologies. I’m a man of faith and this isn’t who I am.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:51 AM ^
LOL --- I responded initially to this post! Now I have a double post!
August 20th, 2020 at 2:41 PM ^
I'm willing to forgive UM Indy for his double post, because he's a man of faith and that isn't who he is. I'm sorry NittanyFan, you've earned no such forgiveness by your double post. Can't you at least muster up a, "that isn't me, I have lots of friends who are double posters" excuse?
August 20th, 2020 at 12:45 AM ^
Sadly I’m sure Marty is/was the same way. Just was lucky enough not to get caught on a hot mic. Agree with you on Thom rambling. Talks too damn much and the biggest homer announcer ever. Whines like a little baby when things don’t go the Reds way. Good riddance.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:52 AM ^
Back in February 2011, Marty used a similar pejorative as regards Marshall University's President, because Marshall built a new softball stadium but not a new baseball stadium (he got invited to Huntington for a baseball team fund-raiser).
That got him a slap on the wrist, and nothing more. The local reaction was "Marty being Marty."
(Cincinnati was a nice city, but the locals were way too tolerant of the likes of Marge Schott, Marty and Bob Huggins over the years)
But, yes, it does appear that the son is generally like the father.
August 20th, 2020 at 9:00 AM ^
Marty became increasingly sanctimonious over the years. He wasn't as bad in, say, 1988.
August 20th, 2020 at 5:03 AM ^
... the biggest homer announcer ever.
Not as long as people remember Johnny Most of the Boston Celtics. Miserable little prick with a voice that sounded like sheet metal going through a wood chipper.
August 20th, 2020 at 8:19 AM ^
... the biggest homer announcer ever.
You guys must be too young to remember Bob Ufer.
August 20th, 2020 at 8:31 AM ^
The Ghost of Skip Caray says "hold my beer"
August 20th, 2020 at 9:04 AM ^
Hawk Harrelson would like a word with all of you.
August 20th, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
Blaha thinks your guys are amateurs.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:45 AM ^
I lived in AZ when he was calling games for the diamondbacks and I think he was well liked at the time but I haven’t followed his career at all. Has he just gotten worse with age?
August 20th, 2020 at 12:59 AM ^
Yes - he was much better back in the day. He had a stint on WGN calling the Cubs too. He was the #2 guy behind Joe Buck on FOX national games for a decade plus. And he deserved that role.
He just became entitled and lazy with age. Didn't do his homework (he'd say something wrong about once an inning), and he'd increasingly go off on his riffs (I'M TELLING YOU!).
August 20th, 2020 at 12:43 AM ^
I hate the cancel culture as much as anyone. But that pertains to digging up things from years and decades prior. This however, is not defensible. You can’t call something in casual talk the f-word capital of the world and then right after pull the faith card and the “that’s not me” bullshit. You said how you really feel and need to face the consequences
August 20th, 2020 at 12:50 AM ^
You just canceled out your cancel culture comment so why go there to begin with?
August 20th, 2020 at 12:52 AM ^
What?! It's pretty clear how his comment come's across and what is implied.
August 20th, 2020 at 12:52 AM ^
What a maroon. You wake up, go to work, open your big yap and OOOPS. you're fired. That'll ruin your day. He's totally only apologizing because he got caught, trying to keep his job.
I always thought that he pushed his voice to be deeper than normal.
BTW - Nick crushed that pitch. The man can hit. Too bad his fielding is subpar, but he's doing well. I miss having him on the Tigers.
August 20th, 2020 at 1:16 AM ^
I was amazed by the open plea for people to back him up. Not that I expect it to happen, but those would be interesting follow up calls.
Have you ever heard Thom use that word before?
- Uhhhhhhhhhhhh...Not really. Not that I can recall.
Have you ever heard him use any other derogatory terms?
- Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....I don’t recall, probably maybe not.
Do you use terms like that?
- Definitely not, I would never. That’s not me.
Hangs up. Calls Thom - “Yeah that #$@& just called, I told him you have never used that word.”
August 20th, 2020 at 1:21 AM ^
Seems so odd, gratuitous, and out of context. I assume he was referring to SF ? Setting aside the bigotry, statements like that are condemnable because they are factually inaccurate. Fuck he think? San Francisco is 85% straight. And tends more male tech meathead than anything else—not that there’s anything wrong with that.
August 20th, 2020 at 7:04 AM ^
If there is any city that is only 85% straight, then that is almost definitely worthy of the title for being a “capital for gay people “ or whatever you want to call it. Consider only an estimated 4.5% of the world population is not straight. Even that number seems high to me. Also, SF is widely known as being a haven for the gay community.
Obviously none of that excuses what he said (even assuming he is referring to SF) but to say it’s not factually correct is denying a reality. A decent percentage of those male tech meat heads are gay. I know because my cousin is one of them.
August 20th, 2020 at 8:24 AM ^
I'm just not going to believe your "4.5%" estimate, because most countries in the world simply don't allow people to be gay. Well, not without ostracizing, prosecuting, tormenting, or killing them, anyway... So you're not going to get a true count.
August 20th, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
It wasn’t my estimate, though I get your point. I also realize now that what I saw was a poll of Americans from last year. Gallup did a poll to ID what portion of the population identifies as LGBTQ. The result was 4.5%. Again, that’s US only, but I think a country our size and with our cultural diversity, it’s not a bad representation. Can you extrapolate to the entire globe? No, probably not. But I think it’s enough to say that the real number is nowhere near 15%.
August 20th, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
Fair explanation... I also don't buy 15% for across the country/planet, but also think that 4.5% is too low. I've always heard that 10% is the number most often attributed, but I have no polls to prove or disprove that. Somewhere in that range feels about right.
I can see San Francisco being 15%, though. As it does appear to be somewhat of a beacon city, if you will...
August 20th, 2020 at 12:39 PM ^
Granted, West Hollywood is much smaller than San Francisco, but they claim 40% LGBTQ identification. They are definitely the capital of the most fantastic parades.
August 20th, 2020 at 1:58 AM ^
This was the most 2020 thing to happen in the sports world. Maybe his dad will come out of retirement to clean up this mess.